Ever had that moment where your reward system just… stops working? The stickers lose their sparkle, the house points barely register, and suddenly every child in your class is asking, “What do I get if I follow the rules?” It’s frustrating, it’s exhausting, and it leaves you wondering what on earth to try next.

In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, we unpack why reward systems lose power over time – and what the science of motivation says we should be doing instead. We’ll explore the hedonic treadmill, reward inflation, and the classic study that shows how easy it is to accidentally kill intrinsic motivation in children. And we’ll look at why transactional “tit for tat” systems can be especially damaging for pupils with SEMH and SEND needs.

Then we’ll dig into what actually works long-term. You’ll learn how to build behaviour that lasts, how to make motivation stick even when there’s a supply teacher in the room, and how to transition away from over-reliance on stickers and points without causing a classroom riot.

If you want your pupils to behave well because it’s who they are – not because they think they’ll earn a token, house point, Dojo and sticker – this episode is for you.

Important links:

Get your copy of the Classroom Management Scoresheet: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/classroom-management-scoresheet

Download other FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources

NEW and FREE: Live in-person ADHD training for SENCOs and school leaders in Walsall

Are the teachers in your school struggling to meet the needs of your pupils with ADHD? Then register for this free, face-to-face training and support session for school leaders and SENCOs in and around Walsall. You'll leave this session with more than just theory – we’ll give you a ready-to-use toolkit to use in your school that helps you calm classrooms, boost focus and more effec

When pupils show persistent, emotionally escalated behaviour, it’s easy to focus on the surface - the shouting, the refusal, the walking out - and miss the real cause.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to use the PAIN framework (Physical, Emotional, Cognitive, Social, Prosocial, and Transition needs) to help your pupils make progress with their SEMH needs. You’ll follow the story of Liam, an 11-year-old pupil whose behaviour seemed oppositional - until the PAIN lens revealed hidden what was happening below the surface and driving his behaviour.

You’ll discover:

• How to identify unmet needs using the PAIN framework – and use this to pick the right support strategies for your students
• Why those needs can mimic “defiance” and “chosen behaviour”
• How to replace traditional behaviour plans with proactive regulation plans that prevent crises before they start

If you’ve ever thought, “I’ve tried every strategy, and nothing works,” this episode will show you how to think like an SEMH specialist - and how the PAIN framework can transform your understanding of your student’s behaviour.

Important links:

Get our FREE SEND Behaviour Handbook: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/send-handbook

Download other FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources

NEW and FREE: Live in-person ADHD training for SENCOs and school leaders in Walsall

Are the teachers in your school struggling to meet the needs of your pupils with ADHD? Then register for this free, face-to-face training and support session for school leaders and SENCOs in and around Walsall. You'll leave this session with more than just theory – we’ll give you a ready-to-use toolkit to use in your school that helps you calm classrooms, boost focus and more effec

Got a class that just won’t stop talking? The kind where the chatter keeps creeping back in, no matter how many times you settle them? We feel your pain!

In this episode, we explain why the problem isn’t talk itself, but unstructured talk - and how to turn your class’s social energy and exuberance into focus, rather than frustration.

You’ll discover the T3 Method: a simple way of structuring your lesson, so pupils get the connection and verbal processing time they need, while keeping your lesson productive and the learning moving forward. You’ll also learn how to teach talk routines and support pupils who rely on social interaction to stay regulated.

So if you’re tired of battling chatty classes, this is your blueprint for working with your students’ energy instead of against it.

Important links:

Get our FREE SEND Behaviour Handbook: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/send-handbook

Download other FREE behaviour resources for use in school: https://beaconschoolsupport.co.uk/resources

NEW and FREE: Live in-person ADHD training for SENCOs and school leaders in Walsall

Are the teachers in your school struggling to meet the needs of your pupils with ADHD? Then register for this free, face-to-face training and support session for school leaders and SENCOs in and around Walsall. You'll leave this session with more than just theory – we’ll give you a ready-to-use toolkit to use in your school that helps you calm classrooms, boost focus and more effec